Migraine and cluster headache show impaired neurosteroids patterns

Background: Perturbation of neuronal excitability contributes to migraine. Neurosteroids modulate the activity of γ-aminobutyric acid A and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors, and might be involved in the pathogenesis of migraine. Here, we measured plasma levels of four neurosteroids, i.e., allopregnanolone, epiallopregnanolone, dehydroepiandrosterone and deydroepiandrosterone sulfate, in patients affected by episodic migraine, chronic migraine, or cluster headache. Methods: Nineteen female patients affected by episodic migraine, 51 female patients affected by chronic migraine, and 18 male patients affected by cluster headache were recruited to the study. Sex- and age-matched healthy control subjects (31 females and 16 males) were also recruited. Patients were clinically characterized by using validated questionnaires. Plasma neurosteroid levels were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results: We found disease-specific changes in neurosteroid levels in our study groups. For example, allopregnanolone levels were significantly increased in episodic migraine and chronic migraine patients than in control subjects, whereas they were reduced in patients affected by cluster headache. Dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels were reduced in patients affected by chronic migraine, but did not change in patients affected by cluster headache. Conclusion: We have shown for the first time that large and disease-specific changes in circulating neurosteroid levels are associated with chronic headache disorders, raising the interesting possibility that fluctuations of neurosteroids at their site of action might shape the natural course of migraine and cluster headache. Whether the observed changes in neurosteroids are genetically determined or rather result from exposure to environmental or intrinsic stressors is unknown. This might also be matter for further investigation because stress is a known triggering factor for headache attacks in both migraineurs and cluster headache patients

A RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND, CROSS-OVER STUDY COMPARING A LEVOSULPIRIDE-BASED AND A METOCLOPRAMIDE-BASED COMBINATION IN THE PREVENTION OF PROMECE-CYTABOM-INDUCED EMESIS

Background. To test two different antiemetic regimens for preventing nausea and vomiting in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) undergoing systemic chemotherapy (CT) with ProMECE-CytaBOM (P-C). Patients and Methods. Twenty consecutive untreated adult outpatients with histologically confirmed NHL and scheduled to receive P-C chemotherapy were registered in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study to compare the antiemetic efficacy of a levosulpiride (LS)-based and metoclopramide (MTC)-based regimen. Results. Complete protection from vomiting was recorded in 93% (62/67) of courses with the LS-regimen and in 89% (62/70) with the MTC-regimen (p = 0.428). No nausea was observed in 84% (56/67) of courses with the LS-regimen and in 74% (52/70) with the MTC-regimen (p = 0.183). No differences in prevention of emesis were recorded when patients crossed to the other regimen. Both regimens were well tolerated; however, on day 8 of chemotherapy, when both antiemetic regimens were administered at a higher dose, the LS-based combination showed significantly lower toxicity (p = 0.035). Conclusions. ProMECE-CytaBOM-induced emesis can be prevented in most cases with appropriate, specifically designed antiemetic therapy. Both the LS- and MTC-based combinations resulted in a high percentage of complete protection from emesis, but the higher incidence of side effects observed with MTC makes the LS-based regimen preferable for patients receiving P-C chemotherapy

Introduction into Italy of Gryon pennsylvanicum (Ashmead), an egg parasitoid of the alien invasive bug Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann

Leptoglossus occidentalis (Heteroptera, Coreidae), a Nearctic species, was accidentally introduced into Northern Italy in the late 1990s, from where it has spread throughout Europe. The bug causes abortion of immature cones of Pinus pinea L., with economic impact on the pine-nut industry. As part of a pest control research program, the egg parasitoid Gryon pennsylvanicum Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae) was collected from British Columbia, Canada, and legally introduced to a quarantine climatic chamber in Florence, Italy. The egg parasitoid will be tested against native non target heteropterans, an environmental impact assessment will be conducted, and a mass rearing method will be developed if appropriate. The ultimate goal is to release G. pennsylvanicum into Italian P. pinea forests for classical biological control of L. occidentalis

Impact of Cluster Thinning and Basal Leaf Removal on Fruit Quality of Cabernet Franc (Vitis vinifera L.) Grapevines Grown in Cool Climate Conditions

Achieving desired fruit quality at harvest in cool climate conditions is a challenge, especially for red varieties, and the typical inability of fruit to reach technological maturity is a critical contributing factor requiring examination. To probe this issue, this research investigated the impact of two levels of crop thinning and of basal leaf removal at three phenological stages in the 2011 and 2012 growing seasons in Michigan. Experiments were conducted at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (SWMREC) in Benton Harbor. Using \u2018Cabernet franc\u2019 (Vitis vinifera L.) vines, yield components (yield per vine, pruning weight, and cluster and berry weight) and basic fruit composition traits [total soluble solids (TSS), pH, titratable acidity, anthocyanins, and phenolics) were studied to investigate the effect of cluster thinning and basal leaf removal on vine performance and fruit quality at harvest. Neither of the treatments significantly impacted TSS in either of the two seasons. Cluster thinning treatment successfully altered cropload ratio, indexed as Ravaz Index (RI), independently of the time of application. Basal leaf removal increased exposed berry temperature, cluster light exposure, and subsequent anthocyanin and phenolic content of the berry in both seasons, again independent of application date, whereas cluster thinning was effective only in 2012. Crop thinning coupled with basal leaf removal resulted in an increased efficiency in anthocyanin accumulation in relation to TSS accumulation, expressed as anthocyanin:sugar, in both years. This is significant because it offers potential for vineyard management practices aiming to improve fruit quality in cool climates where the onset of anthocyanin accumulation could be reduced and decoupled from sugar accumulation

Erythropoietin stimulation of human adipose tissue for therapeutic refilling releases protective cytokines

Apoptosis and inflammatory processes may be at the basis of reducing graft survival. Erythropoietin is a tissue-protective hormone with pleiotropic potential, and it interferes with the activities of pro-inflammatory cytokines and stimulates healing following injury, preventing destruction of tissue surrounding the injury site. It may represent a useful tool to increase the autograft integration. Through the use of multipanel kit cytokine analysis we have detected the cytokines secreted by human tissue adipose mass seeded in culture following withdrawal by Coleman's modified technique in three groups: control, after lipopolysaccharides stimulation and after erythropoietin stimulation. In the control group, we have observed expression of factors that may have a role in protecting the tissue homeostatic mechanism. But the same factors were secreted following stimulation with lipopolysaccharides combined with others factors that delineated the inflammatory state. Instead through erythropoietin stimulation, the factors known to exert tissue-protective action were secreted. Therefore, the use of a trophic factors such as erythropoietin may help to inhibit the potential inflammatory process development and stimulate the activation of reparative/regenerative process in the tissue graft

Multi-technique characterization of pictorial organic binders on XV century polychrome sculptures by combining microand non-invasive sampling approaches

A stony sculptural composition of the Nativity Scene is preserved in Altamura’s Cathedral (Apulia, Italy). This commonly called Apulian “presepe”, attributed to an unknown stonemason, is composed of polychrome carbonate white stone sculptures. While earlier stratigraphic tests have unveiled a complex superimposition of painting layers—meaning that several editions of the sculptures succeeded from the 16th to 20th century—a chemical investigation intended to identify the organic binding media used in painting layers was undertaken. Drawing on current literature, two strategies were exploited: a non-invasive in situ digestion analysis and an approach based on microremoval of painting film followed by the Bligh and Dyer extraction protocol. Both peptide and lipid mixtures were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDIMS) and reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry by electrospray ionization (RPLC-ESI-MS). Attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) examinations were also performed on micro-samples of painting films before lipids and proteins extraction. While human keratins were found to be common contaminants of the artwork’s surfaces, traces of animal collagen, siccative oils, and egg white proteins were evidenced in different sampling zones of the sculptures, thus suggesting the use of non-homogeneous painting techniques in the colored layers

Machine Learning Approach for Care Improvement of Children and Youth with Type 1 Diabetes Treated with Hybrid Closed-Loop System

Type 1 diabetes is a disease affecting beta cells of the pancreas and it’s responsible for a decreased insulin secretion, leading to an increased blood glucose level. The traditional method for glucose treatment is based on finger-stick measurement of the blood glucose concentration and consequent manual insulin injection. Nowadays insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring systems are replacing them, being simpler and automatized. This paper focuses on analyzing and improving the knowledge about which Machine Learning algorithms can work best with glycaemic data and tries to find out the relation between insulin pump settings and glycaemic control. The dataset is composed of 90 days of recordings taken from 16 children and adolescents. Three Machine Learning approaches, two for classification, Logistic Regression (LR) and Random Forest (RL), and one for regression, Multivariate Linear Regression (MLR), have been used for the purpose. Specifically, the pump settings analysis was performed based on the Time In Range (TIR) computation and comparison consequent to pump setting changes. RF and MLR have shown the best results, while, for the settings’ analysis, the data show a discrete correlation between changes and TIRs. This study provides an interesting closer look at the data recorded by the insulin pump and a suitable starting point for a thorough and complete analysis of them